This
release can be seen as the BBC sessions (I think Hux Records took over
the old BBC Radio 1 series) and for Gryphonheads , this is a real must.
The tracks are taken from three different sessions and obviously , the
live versions are definitely more passionate and exciting than the
studio versions.

The
first five tracks come off the first album and are much livelier
especially Estampie which now becomes a classic must hear under this
form. The next four tracks are from a 1974 show just after the release
of their second album Midnight Mushrumps. Again here, the tracks
(actually only two since three of them make for the entire Mushrumps
suite ) are much livelier , merry and alltogether more fascinating than
the studio album. the last track was done as a "commercial " jingle for
the BBC show they were appearing on and apparently was unreleased as of
yet.

Although
fully aware of the importance of their early works , I was not really a
fan of the first two Gryphon albums , with this BBC sessions , I am now
reconciled with those tracks. Much recommended to all Gryphon fans. The
booklet is also full of funny anecdotes of their lives together , the
pranks they pulled and other memories. They once stopped their broken
down van a block away from the London Stock Exchange and if you can
picture their looks and hairstyles , they started asking the directions
of Fleet Street much to the shock of the passers-by. Would they do that
nowadays downtown NY , theu might go straight to Guantanamo , treated as
potential terrorsits.

This
release can be seen as the BBC sessions (I think Hux Records took over
the old BBC Radio 1 series) and for Gryphonheads , this is a real must.
The tracks are taken from three different sessions and obviously , the
live versions are definitely more passionate and exciting than the
studio versions.

The
first five tracks come off the first album and are much livelier
especially Estampie which now becomes a classic must hear under this
form. The next four tracks are from a 1974 show just after the release
of their second album Midnight Mushrumps. Again here, the tracks
(actually only two since three of them make for the entire Mushrumps
suite ) are much livelier , merry and alltogether more fascinating than
the studio album. the last track was done as a "commercial " jingle for
the BBC show they were appearing on and apparently was unreleased as of
yet.

Although
fully aware of the importance of their early works , I was not really a
fan of the first two Gryphon albums , with this BBC sessions , I am now
reconciled with those tracks. Much recommended to all Gryphon fans. The
booklet is also full of funny anecdotes of their lives together , the
pranks they pulled and other memories. They once stopped their broken
down van a block away from the London Stock Exchange and if you can
picture their looks and hairstyles , they started asking the directions
of Fleet Street much to the shock of the passers-by. Would they do that
nowadays downtown NY , theu might go straight to Guantanamo , treated as
potential terrorsits.